KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB284 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Cyndi Carrasco
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the effective date of Public Law 137.

Law Enforcement Oversight Boards

This act changes how civilian oversight boards can interact with local police departments by limiting their role to advisory functions only.

What This Bill Does

  • Limits the power of civilian oversight boards to give advice only, not make binding decisions for law enforcement agencies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement civilian oversight boards in Indiana
  • Local governments that create oversight boards for law enforcement agencies

Terms To Know

Civilian oversight board
A group of citizens who watch over and give advice to local police departments.
Law enforcement agency
An organization like a police department that enforces laws in a community.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The effective date of the law is not provided, so it's unclear when exactly this act will start.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB0284.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Cyndi Carrasco

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds new rules about civilian oversight boards in Indiana.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code that allows local governments to create civilian oversight boards for their police departments.
  • The exact details of how these civilian oversight boards will operate are not provided in this amendment text.
SB0284.03.COMH.AMH001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Representative Mitch Gore

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add new requirements for local governments in Indiana to report certain information about their finances and operations.

  • Local governments would need to provide detailed reports on how they spend money from specific funds.
  • They must also disclose any contracts or agreements with private companies that involve public resources.
  • The exact details of what information local governments have to report are not fully explained in the amendment text.
  • It is unclear how this new reporting will be enforced and monitored by state authorities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Public Law 137

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-02-27 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  5. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  6. 2026-02-25 House

    Returned to the Senate without amendments

  7. 2026-02-24 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 358: yeas 70, nays 25

  8. 2026-02-23 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  9. 2026-02-19 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  10. 2026-01-28 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety

  11. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Referred to the House

  12. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 85: yeas 38, nays 6

  13. 2026-01-26 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Zimmerman

  14. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Cosponsors: Representatives McGuire, Behning

  15. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  16. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Clark added as third author

  17. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  18. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Authored by Senators Carrasco, Freeman

  19. 2026-01-12 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
Law enforcement civilian oversight boards.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Law enforcement civilian oversight boards.

Provides that any type of law enforcement civilian oversight board or commission or any other entity established by a county, municipality, or township to provide civilian oversight over a law enforcement agency, excluding merit boards and commissions, may operate only in an advisory capacity to the applicable law enforcement agency and does not have binding authority over the law enforcement agency.